Governor for steam-engines



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. E. OLDS. GOVERNOR FOR STEAM ENGINES.

No. 456,837. Patented July 28, 1891.

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3y W0 ATTORNEYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

R. E. OLDS.

GOVERNOR FOR STEAM ENGINES.

Patented July 28, 1891.

INVNTOR, RmsomZ. Q1618. WWW ATTORNEYS .(No Model.) '3 Sheets-Sheet a.

r R. E. ()LDS. GOVERNOR FOR STEAM ENGINES.

Patented July 28 lk g WITNESSES.-

INVZNTOR Wan 507712: 02655.

BY I 6 AITORMJQS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RANSOM E. OLDS, OF LANSING, MICHIGAN.

GOVERNOR FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 456,837, dated July 28,1891. 7 Application filed March 22, 1890. Serial No- 344,966- (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, RANSOM E. OLDs, of the city of Lansing, county ofIngham, and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Governors for Steam- Engines, of which the following isa specification, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient devicefor controlling the speed of a steam-engine by regulating the amount ofsteam supplied to the piston; and it consists in the forms andarrangements of the parts, which I will hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of asteam-engine with my governor attached; Fig. 2, a front elevation of thesame. Fig. 3 is a view of the governor detached; Fig. 4, a centralvertical section of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of thevalvecasting. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the valve and head; Fig. 7, atop view of the valve; Fig. 8, a central vertical section of thevalvecasting. Figs. 9, 10, and 11 illustrate different relativepositions of the valve and its seat.

Referring to the letters on the drawings, A indicates a supply-pipeadapted to com municate witha boiler, which may be of any ordinary andwell-known pattern, and which is for that reason not illustrated in thedrawings.

13 indicates a steam-chest of any ordinary kind, and G thesteanrcylinder, to and from which the piston-rod D reciprocates.

E indicates a crank secured to the shaft F, journaled upon the base ofthe frame G in suitable bearings and connected by means of the link H tothe piston-rod. Upon the shaft F is secured the cam I, whichcommunicates, by means of the rod J, reciprocating motion to the rod K.This rod operates the slidevalve between the steam-chest and cylinder.This valve and the cylinder and steam-chest being of ordinaryconstruction, and because they constitute no part of my invention, arenot illustrated in detail.

Coming now to what constitutes my invention, L indicates a valve-castinglocated between the supply-pipe and the steam-chest and establishingcommunication between the two.

M M indicate internally-screw-threaded tubular projections integral withthe valvecasting, whereby it is secured to the supplypipe and thesteam-chest. The interior of the casting is made cylindrical in form andadapted to receive a closely-fitting valve N. The casting is permanentlyclosed at one end and is provided at the other end with a collar 0,which carries the gland P, through which the. stem Q of the valvepasses. The collar 0 is adapted to be secured to the casting by means ofbolts R. I

The casting is provided with two ports S S, one being formed across themouth'of the projectionM and the other being located in the oppositeside of the casting. These ports are substantially oblong recesses inthe'interior surface of the casting. The valveN is cylindrical in form,but provided, as shown in Fig. (3, with recesses T T on opposite sides.Through the fore part of the. valve connecting the recesses T T arebored two holes U U, and through the opposite end at rightangles tothese holes is located a single larger hole V. When thevalve is insertedin the casting and the recesses T T set opposite the ports, the portswill be closed and the passage of steam prevented; but steam will beadmitted into the hole V, and entering the ports S S will serve as abalance to the valve.

\V indicates a pendent arm, which. is secured at its upper end to thevalve-stem, and carries upon its opposite end the pendulumrod X, towhich is secured an adjustable ball Y.

Z indicates a bifurcated rod pivoted at the split end to the valve-stemaround the arm and at the other to the pitman Z, which is pivotallyunited to the rod J.

A indicates a flat spring secured at one end to the arm WV and at theother to the rod Z. The arm V is secured to the valve-stem when thevalve is in the closed position, so that when the pendulum hangsstationary no steam is admitted to the engine. A movement in onedirection of the valve will permit a certain amount of steam to passthrough one of the recesses of the valveinto the steamchest, and amovement in the opposite direc- Ioo tion will allow a certain amount ofsteam to pass through the valve by way of the holes U U, so that if thevalve be turned back- I is moved backward and forward rapidly the rateof speed will be increased, and if slowly the rate of speed will bediminished. I socure the oscillation of the valve by the vibration ofthe pendulum secured to the valvestem and time the swing of thependulum, as usual, by means of the adjustable ball borne thereon. Inorder that the valve may movein unison with the working parts of theengine, so that steam may be admitted at the proper time, I yieldinglyconnect the pendulum to the rod J, so that the reciprocation of that redproduces a simultaneous reciprocation of the pitman and a correspondingvibration of the pendulum. The vibration of the pendulum might beproduced by securing it to some other reciprocating part than the rod J,and I do not desire to be limited to the construction shown in thisparticular. The spring between the pendulum and the pitman contributesease of movement and delicacy of play to the parts, which are necessaryto the practical performance of their functions.

The operation of my machine is as follows: Suppose the pendulum to be inthe vertical position and the steam shut off. Then by imparting a slightmotion to the shaft of the engine or to the pendulum, as preferred,steam will be admitted through the valve into the steam-chest and theengine set in motion. When the engine begins to move, the rod J causesthe pendulum to vibrate and the valve connected therewith to oscillate.Thereupon the steam will all be admitted to and shut off from thesteam-cylinder alternately in the manner described, and so control thespeed of the engine. upon the pond uluin-rod the rate of speed may bediminished or increased, as above suggested.

lVhat I claim isl. A steam-engine governor consisting of thecombination, with the supply-pipe of the engine, the stem of a-rotaryvalve located therein, and a pendulum secured to the stem, of an armpivotally secured upon the stem, a flat semicircular spring connectingthe pendulum with said arm, and means of communicating reciprocatorymotion from the engine to the arm, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

2. A valve-casting consisting of a hollow cylindrical portion adapted toreceive a closelyfitting valve within it and closed at one end, hollowprojections M M, and ports S'S, consisting of recesses sunk into theinner walls of the cylindrical portion and located substantially asdescribed.

3. A valve consisting of a cylinder provided with recesses upon oppositesides, substantially as described, and holes U, U, and V, at rightangles to each other, passing through the cylinder, substantially as setforth.

4. The combination, with the valve-casting provided with hollowprojections M M, communicating with the interior thereof, and ports S S,of the cylindrical valve provided with recesses T '1", holes U, U, andV, located substantially as described, the valve-stem, and collar aroundthe valve-stem, adapted to be secured to the valve-casting,substantially as set forth.

- In testimony of all which I have hereunto subscribed my name.

RANSOM E. OLDS.

Witnesses:

J AMES A. PARK, DEAN PARK.

By lowering or raising the ball V

